Adaptive Exercise is a personal training company, specializing in working with individuals on the autism spectrum. We provide one on one in-home personal training to the autism families of Worcester County, Massachusetts. Adaptive Exercise also offers group personal training classes to gyms, schools and Applied Behavioral Analysis programs. All of our personal training services are specialized for people with autism. We use a number of different ABA strategies and added supports to develop exercise programming that is appropriate for each individual.
Our in-home personal training, is convenient and appropriate for the clientele we service. Many of our clients come to us with little or no experience engaging in regular exercise. Because our service is in home-based, our clients can learn how to exercise in a familiar environment. Traditional big-box gyms can be crowded, loud and filled with equipment that if not used properly or under the proper supervision can be unsafe. This type of environment may not be appropriate for individuals with autism. All the equipment we use in our in-home personal training is provided by Adaptive Exercise. Equipment is specifically selected up with safety in mind. Much of our equipment is sand based, to limit the risk of injury when performing resistance training exercises. This way we can progress clients to their personal training, without the additional risks that come with metal dumbbells and barbells. Our personal trainers use ABA strategies to teach new exercises and help our clients progress through their fitness programs.
Adaptive Group Exercise is a group exercise class design teach and expose people with autism to physical fitness. The class is structured similarly to a traditional fitness class, with a number of adaptations to support individuals of a wide range of abilities. While you understand the class is meant to teach expose people with autism to fitness, we focus on creating a social environment for all participants. Our classes are not only a great way to engage in a healthy leisure activity, but provide a unique social event for people with autism. Participants can work on following group construction, working collaboratively and turn taking. Many of the skills are dressed in traditional social skills groups. The personal trainer uses a number of different ABA and social skills strategies so that the class is not only appropriate, but beneficial for all participants.
When David Crowley first began is research to develop Adaptive Exercise he found a number of articles stating the benefits of exercise for people with autism. But, he was hard-pressed to find companies that we’re teaching children and adults with autism how to exercise appropriately. He found some companies that claimed to offer adaptive or inclusive sports and outdoor leisure activities, but thought the standards we’re low. Many of these groups that claim to be adaptive, were merely groups that had a lower level of standards for their participants. David wanted to develop a personal training service that was truly adaptive and focused on teaching people with autism proper techniques. David had a lengthy experience working in ABA programs and using ABA teaching strategies to teach life skills. He decided to adopt many of these principles in developing exercise programming for people with special needs.
The rates of obesity and overweightness are high amongst the general population in United States, but these rates are further magnified within the autism population. Working and special education programs, David saw many of his students struggling with weight gain, poor nutrition, low muscle tone and pour motor planning. Being a fitness enthusiasts himself, he knew many of these issues could be addressed directly through regular exercise. He decided to become a certified personal trainer by the American Council on Exercise. While studying to become a personal trainer, he knew the traditional approach to personal training we need to be modified for many individuals on the spectrum. He used ABA teaching strategies along with other supports to develop a curriculum for teaching people with autism how to exercise properly. The curriculum can be adapted for individuals with a wide range of abilities. The programming is safe, tracked by both video and data, in individualized for each client.
Traditional personal trainers may not know how to effectively interact and teach people with autism spectrum disorder. Because autism is the spectrum, traditional personal trainers may be appropriate for some individuals. For people with autism who need additional support, Adaptive Exercise is the solution. While not every individual maybe ready to engage an exercise program, our trainers are skilled in working with individuals with a wide range of both physical and cognitive abilities. Our programming can be adapted, so that is appropriate for the individual. Some clients maybe working on increasing their strength, Learning exercise routines in focusing on improving their physical fitness, while other clients maybe working on more prerequisite skills. Regardless of where the personal training starts, we focus on each individual progressing through their fitness program, regardless of what that progression may look like.
As our company grows we aim to be able to provide exercise services to more autism families in Massachusetts. We hope to provide a number of different group exercise classes at gyms, recreational centers, and ABA programs across Massachusetts. These classes provide a more affordable, and social event for families. We also aim to train more personal trainers and increase the amount of the families we can service through our in-home personal training. The autism families of Massachusetts has spoken and they want more fitness options available for their children. Adaptive Exercise hopes to be a driving force in developing more fitness and leisure opportunities for people with autism. The science has shown that physical activity is physically and mentally beneficial for people with autism. Yet for some reason there are few companies targeted towards providing these types of services. Founder, David Crowley hopes that exercise autism therapy becomes as main stream as other traditional autism therapies such as Speech Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy. If your interested in learning more about our unique approach to personal training visit our website: adaptiveexercisenow.com.